Alton man sentenced to 10 years for shootings in Godfrey, Granite City

EDWARDSVILLE — One of two men accused of firing shots at other people pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to two concurrent 10-year prison sentences.

Nekemar K. “Johnny Blaze” Pearson, 21, of the 1100 block of Cardinal Street, Alton, was originally charged with a Class X aggravated battery with a firearm and two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm in exchange for a prosecution agreement to drop the Class X charge. The Class X charge alleged the men shot another man in the arm.

Timothy L. Cook, of the 3800 block of Horn Street, Alton, pleaded guilty earlier to the aggravated battery with a firearm charge and is awaiting sentencing.

Pearson was accused of shooting into a home June 13, 2015, in the 300 block of St. Charles Drive, Godfrey, and in the direction of another person in the 2200 block of Pontoon Road, Granite City. He has been held in the Madison County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Authorities also agreed to drop a charge of mob action that was filed after a fight at the Madison County Jail Feb. 16, 2016, while he was awaiting trial. Third Circuit Judge Kyle A. Napp accepted Pearson’s plea.

The Granite City incident happened at 11:22 p.m. at a carnival. A press release from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said a group of people, two armed with handguns, confronted three individuals.

Gunfire in the Granite City incident did not injure any people, but it did damage at least two vehicles, authorities said.

“The victims told Granite City police officers that two of the suspects were armed with handguns and that at least one of two armed suspects began shooting at them without warning,” it says. “Fortunately, the victims were not struck, but at least two vehicles were damaged by gunfire. The suspects fled the scene shortly after shooting at the victims and were unable to be located. Granite City officers were advised that the suspects were possibly from the Alton area, and that one of them goes by the nickname of ‘Johnny Blaze’ (Pearson).”

Then, at 12:08 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2015, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots fired at a home in the 300 block of St. Charles Drive in Godfrey. Upon arrival, deputies determined there was a party taking place at the home, with multiple people on foot in the area.

Deputies were told that a group of subjects attending the party got into an argument with at least two other people at the party and shots were fired. “Deputies were able to identify the subjects armed with the firearms as Pearson and Cook,” the release said.

While still at the scene, the sheriff’s office received a call that a 23-year-old Alton man was being treated at OSF Saint Anthony’s Hospital for a single gunshot wound to his arm.

Investigators met with the man, who confirmed he was shot while at that same party. “The man told investigators that shortly after arriving at the house, he was approached by Nekemar Pearson, who told him that he was going to kill him,” the release says.”Shortly after this statement was made, the victim heard gunshots and realized he had been shot.”

A friend of the victim, who also was at the party, drove him to Saint Anthony’s.

Investigators developed information and evidence during the investigation that Pearson and Cook were both responsible for discharging firearms during the disturbance in Godfrey.